Divya Deshmukh Joins Global Chess League with Alpine APL Pipers Team Led by Magnus Carlsen Women’s World Cup champion Divya Deshmukh will make her debut in the Global Chess League (GCL) as part of the defending champions Alpine APL Pipers, a team led by world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. The squad includes top players such as Anish Giri, Vidit Gujrathi, Koneru Humpy, and Volodar Murzin, making the Pipers one of the strongest contenders in the fourth season of the league. Deshmukh expressed her excitement about joining the team, stating that Alpine Pipers were her preferred choice and that she felt “very happy” when they selected her. She highlighted her anticipation to learn from Carlsen, noting that while they had met before, this will be their first opportunity to interact closely. “He has a lot to teach and he’s one of the best,” she said. Deshmukh also shared her hopes for India’s upcoming milestone of achieving its 100th Grandmaster title, expressing optimism that more female players will reach this status. “I’m hoping that there will be more female GMs from India,” she remarked. She emphasized her readiness to adapt to the unique dynamics of the GCL, where teammates are also opponents. “It’s not difficult to adapt because I’ve played against them,” she said, adding that playing alongside them in both the league and the Olympiad would create a “nice opportunity” for collaboration. The 20-year-old player also discussed her recent performance in the 2026 Cairns Cup in St Louis, where she finished tied fifth to seventh. While she described her overall performance as “very average,” she acknowledged a loss to Tan Zhongyi as a setback. “I was pressing the whole time and didn’t manage my time well,” she explained, noting that the game ended in a time violation and a critical mistake.#divya_deshmukh #magnus_carlsen #anish_giri #global_chess_league #alpine_apl_pipers
